Micromachined Mechanical Cochleas

A National
Science Foundation story describes a new type of audio sensor based
on the human cochlea. The sensor is being developed by Karl Grosh and
Robert
D. White at the University of Michigan for use in underwater
sound wave detection. They sensor may also be suitable as a lower-cost
replacement for microphones and cochlear implants. The sensor is a MEMS
device and uses hydromechanical components to detect sound. It currently
works in the range of 4,200 and 35,000 hertz but could potentially
measure sound in frequencies far beyond human hearing. Several
diagrams accompanying the NSF article, compare the sensor to the
human cochlea. For the technical details, see the researcher's paper, Microengineered
Hydromechanical Cochlear Model (PDF format)